‘RONDA A LA MARE DE DÉU’ IN VALENCIA

On May 15th, the Bancaja Foundation facilitated the traditional concert of ‘Ronda a la Mare de Déu’, an event to end the festivities honouring the patron saint of Valencia. This year’s concert took place 100 years after the pontifical coronation of the Virgen de los Desamparados to commemorate the cultural event.

The concert, held at the Plaza de la Mare de Déu (Plaza de la Virgen) in Valencia, began its tradition in 1968 and has occurred 53 times since. This unique centenary concert had the collaboration of the Diputación de València, CaixaBank and the support of the Ayuntamiento de València.

3,500 people attended the concert to watch the special performance. The entertainment featured the Banda Simfònica Municipal de València, the Orfeó Valencià and the Grup de Danses Alimara of the SC El Micalet. This year’s programme was particularly special as it included a performance by piano player José Ramón Martín, who accompanied the soprano Carmen Avivar and the tenor Vicente Ombuena. Together, they performed a unique opera and zarzuela, a traditional form of Spanish musical comedy.

The concert was conducted by the conductor of the Banda Simfònica Municipal de València, Miquel Rodrigo. The band has been an integral part of the concert every year since the first event in 1968, which was conducted by maestro José Ferriz. Ferriz has since been succeeded by other talented band conductors like Joan Garcés and Fernando Bonete.

Report by Emily Bray